Page:English laws for women in the nineteenth century.djvu/52

40 of it scarcely acknowledging his acquaintance. I can call them to witness that, after our reconciliation, I pleaded for him; but it was not only on my account, that they chose to withdraw from his intimacy. I saw less of him than usual, during the few months that intervened before our final separation. He went alone for the shooting season to Scotland, as I was not well enough to travel, and after his return he spent nearly all the time he could command with Miss Vaughan, through whom he hoped at least to right the disorder in his pecuniary affairs. Lord Melbourne declined to make any attempt to obtain a better appointment than the one he had already bestowed; and while I was with my sister in the country, wrote to complain of a strange attempt on Mr Norton's part to interfere as to the appointment of another magistrate (in which I afterwards found he was to have a personal advantage). I returned to town when matters were in this condition; my stay there was to have been brief, for I had settled to pass the Easter with my children at my brother's house in Dorsetshire. I was then on perfectly friendly terms with Mr Norton, in spite of his discontent in other matters. He had written me coaxing and flattering letters, urging me to try, both with Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell, to get this appointment given to his friend, and praising "Lord M.'s kindness on all occasions." He never opposed in any way my plans for the Easter, but, on the contrary, urged me, now we were friends, to over-rule my brother's objections to receive him, and get him also invited—in which attempt I did not succeed. On the day previous to that on which I was to leave town, I returned from my drive, and found Miss Vaughan had called in my absence, and remained closeted with my husband for some time. Lord Melbourne was with him when I came in, and they were talking together. After Lord M. left, Mr Norton talked discontentedly of the appointment, and angrily of my not getting that and pecuniary interests arranged for him. He also said Miss Vaughan had told him, if he himself